In response to growing concerns over large gatherings of youth, Metropolitan Police Department Chief Pamela A. Smith has implemented a Juvenile Curfew Zone in the Northeast area of the city. Authorized under the Juvenile Curfew Emergency Amendment Act of 2025, the measure allows Chief Smith to enforce a curfew in areas where the presence of minors is considered a potential threat to public safety and order. The curfew zone, publicly announced on the department’s website, is centered around South Dakota Avenue NE and Bladensburg Road NE.
Under the new mandate, individuals aged 17 and under are prohibited from gathering in groups of nine or more within public spaces or business premises inside the designated curfew zone, except for certain specified exemptions. These exceptions are intended to allow for legitimate activities while maintaining a balance between public safety and individual rights. According to the police department’s directive, the curfew is in effect from 8:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m., beginning last Friday and continuing through midnight tomorrow, with increased monitoring in the Northeast area during these hours.
The establishment of the Juvenile Curfew Zone aligns with a broader citywide curfew set to remain in effect through the end of this month. Under this policy, all individuals under 18 must stay out of public spaces between 11:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.
